Stairway.



A. B. TODD.

STAIRWAY.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 26, 1910.

Patented Aug. 29, 1911 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A. B. TODD.

STAIRWAY.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 26, 1910.

Patented Aug. 29, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ANDREW B. TODD, OF SHORT BEACH, CONNECTICUT.

STAIRWAY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 29, 1911.

Application filed September 26, 1910. Serial No. 583,852.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ANDREW B. TODD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Short Beach, in the county of New Haven and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inStairways; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates toimprovements in stairways.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved supporting meansfor stairways constructed and arranged in such manner as to dispensewith the use of the usual stringers and having means to provide a firmconnection for the treads of the steps and which will prevent the treadsfrom splitting.

Another object is to provide a stair supporting mechanism by means ofwhich stairs may be readily constructed by an inexperienced person.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists ofcertain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement ofparts as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of a portion of astairway constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is avertical sectional view of the same on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 isa side view of the inner Side of a portion of a spiral stairway showingthe manner in which the stair supporting plates are cut for this form ofstairway. Fig. 4: is a plan view of the stairway shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5is aside view showing the application of the invention to an openstairway wherein a hand rail and balusters are employed. Fig. 6 is aperspective View of one of the supporting plates, shown 1n Fig. 1. Flg.7 is a similar view of one of the plates shown in Fig. 5.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, 1 denotesthe treads and 2 the risers of my improved stairway. The opposite endsof the treads and risers 1 and 2 are connected together to form thestairway by a series of connecting and supporting plates 3 which, in theclosed form of the invention as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, have parallel,horizontally disposed upper and lower edges 1 and parallel inclined orangular front and rear edges 5. The upper and lower edges 4 of theplates are bent to form horizontally disposed grooves or channels 6which are of substantially semi-circular form and are adapted to receivethe rounded ends of the treads 1 of the steps whereby said ends aresupported and are protected from being split. The plates 3 are providedwith centrally disposed vertical rows of apertures which are disposedopposite the ends of the risers and are adapted to receive nails 7whereby the plates are secured to the ends of the risers. The grooves orchannels of the upper and lower edges of the plates are also providedwith rows of apertures with which are adapted to be engaged nails orsimilar fastening devices 8 which are driven into the ends of the treadsof the stairs as shown. By thus arranging and securing the plates 3 thetreads and risers of the stairs will be securely held and supported inproper position and form a stairway.

In forming a spiral stairway or in formlng curves or bends in a straightstairway as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, the inner supportingand fastening plates 9 of the treads and risers are out ofi at theproper angle to form plates corresponding to the Width and position ofthe inner ends of the treads and risers. The plates 9 are provided withapertures for receiving nails or other fastening devices 10 whereby theplates are secured to the inner ends of the treads and risers of thestairways.

In Fig. 5 of the drawings wherein the plates are employed for supportingthe steps of an open stairway, or one in which bal'usters and a handrail are employed, the plates 11 have their outer ends constructed insubstantially rectangular oblong form and have their inner ends formedat an angle corresponding to the angle or inclination of the stairway;In the upper edges of the rectangular forwardly projecting outerportions of the plates 11 are formed semi-circular grooves or channels12 with which are engaged the ends of the treads of the steps, saidgrooved portion of the plates having formed therein apertures to receivefastening nails or similar devices 13. The vertical outer edges of theplates 11 have formed therein rows of apertures with which are engagednails or similar fastening devices 15 which are driven into the ends ofthe risers whereby the latter are secured to the plates. The innerinclined or angular edges of the plates are secured to straight stringerbars 16 which" are arranged at the desired angle or inclination for thestair way.

By means of a series of supporting and connecting plates constructed asshown and described, the treads and risers of the stairs may be quicklyand accurately assembled and fastened together by an inexperiencedperson for forming stairways of any length without the use of the usualform of stringers or other supports.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, the construction and operation of the invention will bereadily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion and minor details ofconstruction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages of the invention as defined in theappended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a stairway of the character described, a series of supportingplates adapted to be secured to the ends of the treads and risers of thestairs, said plates having in their upper and lower edges grooves orchannels to receive the ends of the treads whereby the latter are firmlysupported and prevented from being split.

2. In a stairway, a series of steps, supporting and fastening plateshaving formed in their upper and lower horizontal edges tread receivinggrooves or channels and a series of apertures, said grooves or channelsbeing adapted to receive the ends of the treads whereby the latter aresupported and a series of driven fastening devices engaged with theapertures in said plates and adapted to be driven into the ends of thetreads and risers of the stairs whereby the plates are secured theretoand said treads and risers supported in position to form a stairway.

3. In a stairway, a series of supporting plates adapted to be engagedwith the ends of the treads and risers of the stairs whereby the latterare secured together and supported in operative position to form astairway, said plates having a shape corresponding to the width andposition of the ends of the treads and risers, and having formed intheir horizontal edges grooves or channels adapted to receive the endsof the treads whereby the latter are firmly held and prevented frombeing split.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

ANDREW B. TODD. WVitnesses:

ROBERTA RUssELL BRADLEY, WILLIAM R. Foo'rn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

